Country Bar and Grill

This legendary place is now closed. :(
They were the Best wings in the Kingfield nabe! So crispy and moist and so satisfying! Terrific mixed drinks and a really fantastic jukebox! Without a doubt, a hidden jem. Don’t be fooled by the name!

my favorite! epic chicken wings

God how I love this bar. And wings. But oh how I hate their suddenly sky rocking drink prices. They lost their liquor license this fall for a bit and not sure what happened. But when a dive bar charges more than ANY other bar in uptown including Stella’s, ($ 7 for an absolute/​soda) that just downright pisses me off. Sorry country bar, but I’ll be down at Lyles, where I get the weirdos, divey atmosphere, and 2−4 – 1’s.

A true dive bar! The crowd can get a little sketch, but I’ve never had nor seen any problems there, and when my boyfriend lived in the neighborhood we would come here all the time. Their wings are awesome, super crispy and very well seasoned, even without sauce. There are some good specialty cocktails there but lawd knows I can’t remember what they’re called because they are THAT strong! Good variety of music on the jukebox too.

If sketchy, weird, drug addicts minding their own creepy business in the corner frighten you… don’t come here.
if you’re not easily frightened and have a few mussel bond guys/​girls to bring with you get ready for fun fun fun!
This is a DIVE bar, with that being said it’s a great one. Karoke, the best wings in the Twin Cities strong drinks and a mixed crowd. Don’t expect to go here and see elite society, what you will find is a few drunks an addict or two blue colar adults and a couple trendy college seniors here and there. Come with the crew you plan to enjoy yourself with and your in for a great time before the club or just to hang. I didn’t give them 5 stars because they don’t serve grey goose, which is the only thing I prefer to drink, but they have Stoli so I can live with that when we decide to go. I don’t go often but I have fun when I do.
expect grochy service… but again it’s a dive bar part of the thing that gives the place it’s charm… and once they know your face they lighten up!

The lasting memory of this place is the one stuck to my clothes/​hair. This place absolutely reeks. There is no kitchen… they cook (fry) right behind the bar. I showered twice after leaving. I did like the bar ice dumped in the urinal. I attempted to melt as many ice cubes as I could.

This place always looked super sketch — so deliciously fried chicken and chicken wings were the last thing I’d think they’d served. After being nagged by a friend to go try the wings – I did. I went in with the thought of dining in, however walking in there I noticed some «key note» drunks and what seemed to be a meth addict in the corner.
Now, I mentioned in my previous Unilocal – I don’t care place or price – if it’s good I’m going. I then decided to ordered my wing TO GO! and sat at the bar. I watched as the cook prepared the wings ever so gingerly (and with pride!) 6 wings came with 2 sauces – when I brought them home I noticed they forgot to give me my sauces — FAIL! But upon first bite – juicy, extremely flavorful and the skin – crisp and nicely coated. I’m sure with the sauce it would have been that much better!
I called and let them know they forgot my sauce – which they acknowledged it was a mistake and comped me $ 5 on my next order.
PRO: Best fried chicken/​chicken wings in Mpls
CON: Sketchy place – Just place a take out order for wings!

GREAT WINGS! It IS divey but their food and service are GREAT! The only reasonI gave it ⁴⁄₅ stars is the lack of space/​seating inside…

One bartender on a Friday night?
The lights here are about as bright as possible, fully displaying all of the artifacts stuck to the wall in a desperate attempt to be a cool dive bar… This place literally stinks. There’s no way that fan above the grill/​frier works at all.
Only positive here — strong drinks.

Looking to pull on the cowboy boots and do some line dancing?
This place is not for you.
Looking to pull on the party pants and get absolutely trashed?
This place is for you.
My second favorite Dive Bar in the twin cities, following the Vegas Lounge.
Decked out with antlers and buffalo heads, awesomely horrible karaōke, cheap cheap cheap drinks. The clientele is random and has an amazing mix of people, making (almost) every feel right at home. Stay here all night if you can hold your bladder, I think the bathrooms are just for show.
The beauty of the Country Bar is after is closes you can try to eat away any impending hangover at Caffrey’s, just one door down.

Don’t be deceived, there is nothing country about this bar. It is a total dive bar filled with characters, seriously, I have never seen so many different types of folk in such perfect harmony. I am pretty sure I heard Lady Gaga, New Edition, Poison, Elton John and Buckcherry, in that order, blaring from the jukebox. And no one got hurt.
Their drinks are strong. Beware. Tap beer selection is nothing mind-​blowing (at least they have Summit EPA on tap). If you order wine, it comes in those tiny bottles that you would get on an airplane… so at least you know the wine has not been sitting open for weeks turning into vinegar. But then again, if you are coming to the Country Bar for wine, you either don’t know what wine is or you lost a bet.
Nonetheless, its a fun atmosphere and a great place to gather before or after a show at any of the near by theaters or for a pre– or post-​dinner drink… but probably not for dinner. (Though they did have a $ 5 burger special starting at 9pm on a Friday… cheap date plan… just don’t expect a second date). I have not been there for their karaōke, but hear it is a pretty awesome experience. How could it not be with such a mosh posh of crazy folk?
Do not come here with any expectations, just enjoy the people watching, the strong drinks and the awesome music:)
cheers.

I adore this place. I could go every day (it helps that I live directly across the street.)
The music is a little surprising, and the clientele is extremely eclectic, but fun. The décor is total dive, as others have mentioned, but being from Northern Wisconsin, I feel right at home.
They have the most amazing special ever… a 16oz beer and three HUGE chicken wings for something like $ 4.65. Plus beers are like $ 2. Count me in.
A little note about the wings. They are some of the best I have ever had. The bartender told me that they are the same wings as the wings at Shorty and Wags, which are regarded by some publications as the best in the city. Try them with the hot vinegar.
If you want to have some cheap drinks, amazing wings, and spectacular people watching, go to Country Bar. You’ll love it.

I came here 2 weeks before I moved to Los Angeles.
It was my birthday, my two guy friends and I walked from my apartment. This random stranger ended up buying my incredibly drunk ass a shot. Which was much larger than your standard. 10 minutes later, I’m outside smoking… then vomiting. through my fingers. Apologizing to the fellow smokers for my discreet vomit, I go back in. I admire the deer antlers, sleazy characters, bartender from 1976, and no-​name gin and tonic. Realizing I was leaving this all behind; the stink of fried fish, B.O., and random drunks seemed so endearing to me. It might be a crappy dive bar that I probably wouldn’t frequent, but my memory of it with good friends made it seem pretty rad.

Dive: «to plunge, submerge, or descend»
It was good to see that they shaved the beard of dust off the walls and ceiling. It makes it a lot easier to enjoy looking at the various animal heads and band posters.
I’ve been outright warned here to «stay away from the girls with the herpes» and told that «everything is a sexfest.» Not to say this bar, or its denizens are sleazy. Oh no. People are just looking to cut loose, have a good time, sing bad karaōke, drink cheap beer, enjoy the acrid scent of «Twin Cities’ best» chicken wings, dance and knock over the tables, and do other things you do in low places.
The girl who runs the karaōke belted out an amazing version of «The Ballad of Chasey Lain» — way better than the original. Surprises await.

I think I’m in the same ball park as Jen B. with her assessment: «Possibly the best and worst bar in the city.»
The place is small, and idiosyncratic (to put it politely). I’m often not sure why I go, but I do wind up there sometimes.
The beer? Cheap domestic stuff. Probably the most affordable drinks in the area.
The food? The wings are notable, whatever else they may have is probably mediocre at best.
The atmosphere? Hahaha. Local dive bar seems the best summary. Lots of regulars, probably more than their fair share of weirdos.
Apparently, they have karaōke, but I can’t imagine going to such a small place for it. I’ve watched a few games there, but that’s always a mixed experience. Oh, it’s the NFC championship game? Let me crank the jukebox. «Groove is in the heart» goes well with football, right?
I really can’t suggest anyone go to the Country Bar. But sometimes you do, and you appreciate it for reasons you really can’t explain.

Total dive bar.
The first time I drank here, circa 1998, I sat down alone with a beer and a Jameson. Random tweaker sat down next to me, looked around, grunted. Looked over at me and slurred «Whatsyer favorite Beatles album?» I drank my Jameson and replied «White Album». Dude became even more agitated, pounded the table, said «I’ll fuckin kill you if it’s not Abbey Road».
That’s cool.

This place is an armpit full of weirdos, inedible food, and bad drinks.
It might be just what you’re looking for.
The most out of control bad equipment karaōke and most awesome singer running it I have ever rocked. That was pretty cool.
Drinks suddenly skyrocket if you ask for the hard stuff or a shot, so stick to brews and be happy with life. Not too happy though, because you’re here.
So come on down to the Country and hang out with scumbags and sing.

So… this bar is totally up my alley. Dive bar, juke box, cheap beer specials. Myself and a few of my friends popped in here to belly up. the jam’s were awesome on juke box that night. (like old school r &b and funk.) I was pretty excited. i thought i found the best bar in the twin cities until… until…
the smell of fried fish on the grill took over the entire bar. we all look at each other and agreed it smelled terrible but we were having a good time so we didn’t want to leave. soon enough, i felt the smell making it’s way into my clothes and hair. we couldn’t take it anymore and had to go. i was really dissapointed but i can’t sit in a bar that smells like won-​tons and fried fish… no matter how cool it may be.

I love this place.
The décor is amazing and I wish I could steal every single
dead animal bust and cowboy inspired item off the wall.
The people that come here are just as interesting,
there are only a handful of places that I feel
you can get as diverse of a crowd as you do at the Country Bar.
They do karaōke, which packs the house.
They have moderate drink prices and serve it up strong.
They have nice bartenders.
They have yummy bar food.
It’s a small place, so it might be a little cramped if you’re with a group.
Everyone is pretty nice, so even if your elbow to elbow with people,
chances are you’ll get involved in a good conversation.

This place is like a «strip club» for Uptown… like the Deuce Deuce is to Nordest, like the Country Bar is to Uptown… meaning that its always a good time… but be open to what the night brings, for example:
You might walk out after 4 minutes.
You might order take out.
You might blow 40 bucks… which is NOT the norm.
You might sing karaōke.
You might need a cab.
You might need another drink.
This place effect everyone differently.